Aragorn’s eyes snapped open. Sunlight poured into the room, casting streaks of light across the bed. He groaned as his muscles protested every slight movement. His arm and shoulder were in a sling, bound tightly to his chest so that he could not move them and cause more damage to the already torn muscles.
He was naked to the waist and every cut or bruise had been well attended with specially medicated salve and bandages.
Arwen lay asleep in the small couch next to the bed and he smiled warmly at the sight. Even in sleep, even after their ordeal, she radiated a beauty that made his heart leap every time he looked at her.
Elladan and Elrohir walked in then, each carrying a tray of food for the occupants of the chamber. Aragorn’s eyes shifted to his foster brothers, sadly remembering the view of Valinor and their choice to remain in Middle-Earth with their sister and her husband.
As if they could read his mind, Elrohir scoffed. “Do not give me that look, brother. You need us here. We would not wish be anywhere else.” He set his tray on the stand beside the bed and moved to help Aragorn sit up.
Elladan quietly woke Arwen and she immediately perched herself at Aragorn’s bedside, fretting over him as a mother would a sick child.
Elrohir shook his head and grinned. “She hasn’t left your side for days.”
Aragorn blinked, not quite understanding. “How – long have I been asleep.”
“Two days.” Arwen answered before either twin was able. “Two very long days.”
“And everyone in the kingdom is anxiously awaiting news of your recovery,” Elladan smiled.
Aragorn sighed and squeezed tightly the smooth hand that slid into his.
"What has been happening in my unconsciousness?" Aragorn asked, favoring each of them with a questioning look.
Elrohir laughed. "Then we shall be here for another two days, brother!"
Silence followed the comment and Elladan relented, knowing that Aragorn would continue on his quest for the knowledge he sought until he was satisfied with the answers.
“Imrahil has been quite demanding. Aldamir refuses to remain confined to bed, Gimli has done nothing but fret over your well-being thus causing many a late night argument with the Prince of Mirkwood.” Elladan rattled, smiling when Aragorn’s eyes widened, the confusion making itself quite evident. His mind was racing with what questions to ask, what had happened to his friends, his people.
“Many dead?” Aragorn finally asked.
The brothers exchanged a look before Elladan nodded.
Aragorn sighed and closed his eyes, drawing a deep breath before asking Elladan to go on.
The elf threw up his hands in defeat. He took a seat next to the bed as Arwen began lifting small honeyed cakes to her husband’s lips.
"Leave nothing out." Aragorn relaxed tense muscles into the soft cushions of the bed.
"You were right to give me Anduril," He smiled and Aragorn stopped chewing, eyebrow raised.
"I didn't think I could wield it. Didn't think I had a right to wield it. But it knew."
Aragorn smiled knowingly. "The blade knew it was in the hands of my kin. Go on."
Arwen pressed another small cake into her husband’s mouth as her brother continued.
"It glowed in my hands and found its mark in the belly of the beast." Elladan said with a smile. "The dwarves held their own and were valiant in battle. They would do whatever it takes for you, brother."
Aragorn smiled warmly. "Gimli is a good friend and I owe him much. Far more than I can ever repay in this lifetime."
Arwen squeezed his hand. "Your friendship is enough, I think."
Elrohir pressed a honeyed cake to Arwen's lips and grinned. "You have eaten far less in the last two days than a woman in your condition should be allowed."
Aragorn smiled triumphantly as Arwen was subjected to the same insistence as she had been forcing upon him.
"Legolas, Celeborn, Cirdan, all are well?"
"Yes. Quite well. Lord Imrahil is here as well, with an army from the South."
Aragorn stared.
“He arrived just in time, on ships from Pelargir, with a host from Gondor and Rohan.” Elrohir said with a small smile. “Annuminas was under attack. Their surprise arrival turned the tide of the battle, brother.” He exchanged a look with his brother and sister before settling his gaze once again on Aragorn. “We would have lost the City had they not arrived.”
"It would appear that he had a vision of your death and bade Faramir to send men to the North. Eomer sent horsemen as well."
“A dream told him to send aid to Annuminas?” Aragorn stared. “And Faramir agreed?”
“Imrahil will be able to tell you more. I’m sure there is a much longer tale.” Elladan said, eyeing his brother warily.
Aragorn caught and held Arwen's hand as she tried to press another morsel to his lips. "No more."
"You will feed yourself or I will feed you. Those are your choices. Both can be done as my brothers give you the details of the battle."
Elrohir smirked and Elladan favored his brother with a look of pity.
After swallowing the last bit of food, Aragorn said, "Closely related ancestors to Numenor have been known to have such visions. I've had them myself." Aragorn nodded, squeezing Arwen's hand as an indication that he'd dreamed of her.
Aragorn nodded. "Imrahil is well and uninjured?"
"Yes. And he would be quite offput to learn that you've awoken and he'd not been notified."
“The City fought bravely. Aldamir taught the Rangers and Royal Guards well, he-”
“Aldamir!” Aragorn nearly jumped out of the bed. “I saw him fall. Alatar struck him-”
Arwen placed a comforting hand on her husband’s arm as Elladan raised his hands to silence the nearly irate man. “Peace, brother. He is well and resting. He has a broken arm and a head wound. He will recover.”
Aragorn breathed a sigh of relief. He’d lost enough family members in their attempt to protect him. He didn’t want to have to live through any more unexpected deaths.
Aragorn’s eyes widened and he took a deep, shuddering breath. “I had no idea Alatar was so powerful. How did he assemble such an army so quickly?”
“We have scouts looking into how this could have happened.” Elladan answered as Elrohir continued.
“Having been left behind when the rescue party made their way to you,” Elrohir cast an annoyed sidelong glance at his brother, “ I led Imrahil and the army from the South to where I knew you would be.”
“My brother here does not heed a healers warning any better than you,” Elladan teased, indicating the arm that was now firmly encased in a sling and the body that was being held far too stiffly for Elrohir’s normal bearing
“You are injured!” Aragorn attempted to sit only to have bruised and battered muscles scream in protest.
“I will be well, brother,” Elrohir soothed. “My body heals much faster than yours. Have a care to rest when the healers advise it.”
"I think this is enough for today," Arwen said, a slight warning to cease their upsetting discussion twinkling in her eyes.
Aragorn began to protest. “The people-”
“I have addressed them. All is well and reconstruction has begun on the outer wall already.”
Aragorn stared at Arwen but it was Elladan who answered the unspoken question.
“Dwarves arrived to combat the dragon and once it was dispatched, began work immediately on restoring the City walls to their proper state.”
“I can imagine Gimli is not happy about having to repeat already long years of labor.”
“Gloin has taken over the restoration. Gimli will be returning with you to Gondor.”
“Great.” Aragorn rolled his eyes, amusement tugging at the corner of his lips. “Force me to listen to his incessant complaining on a journey where my only option of escape will be to jump overboard into the Sea.”
The twins laughed and Arwen slid her hand into his, giving it a small squeeze. “We can always drug him so that he sleeps the entire journey.”
Aragorn chuckled and winked at his wife.
The twins used this break in the serious conversation to excuse themselves with murmurs of duties they had yet to attend and scurried out of the room.
When Arwen opened her mouth to speak, he shushed her with pursed lips. “No more words, indonya.”
She nodded and climbed wordlessly into the bed, leaning against his good shoulder and wrapping her arm around his waist. His arm went around her back as he pulled her against his chest. She sighed against his skin and listened to the strong beating of his heart. “It was terrible to watch him hurt you, Estel.”
“Arwen-”
“It was as if my insides were being ripped out. It was as if I could feel your pain. It was nearly unbearable.”
He pressed his lips to her forehead and sighed. “I love you, my queen. More than anything in middle-earth.”
A brief flash of regret flooded through him as he remembered the sacrifice she had made for him: Her absolute acceptance of the Doom of Men.
His heart broke at the memory of the beauty of Valinor and Arwen’s rejection of her homeland in favor of a few short years with the man she loved. It was a sacrifice he knew that he would never be able to repay, should he live one or one hundred more years.
As his they lay holding one another, one last vision played out in his mind. One that Arwen shared. One that both frightened and enraptured him: Children playing in the gardens of Gondor, staring up at their parents with beautiful, inquisitive eyes. Their lightly tipped ears and dark features bespoke an inheritance few left in Middle-Earth could claim.
END